$500 membership for Sydney’s The Great Synagogue

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The Great Synagogue has launched a $500 annual membership rate, which gives all benefits, including the right to sit in any seat without a dedicated brass plaque.

Sydney’s Great Synagogue was designed by Thomas Rowe in 1875 and built in 1878. It is acknowledged as one of Sydney’s most beautiful heritage buildings. The Great Synagogue has remained the Jewish cathedral of Sydney, though today high-rise buildings on either side tend to squash its exterior majesty. The growth of the Jewish community and its suburban dispersal has brought the establishment of many other synagogues but The Great has retained its stateliness and solemnity, while its busy program of services and activities is supported by a loyal congregation and provides, together with the city churches of other denominations, a serene spiritual oasis in the midst of the bustling life of the city.

If someone wishes to purchase a plaqued seat, that option is still available. The Great wants to make Shule membership a realistic possibility for the many families who want to belong to a synagogue but are put off by high fees. The motto of The Great Synagogue is: join us, and let’s build our open community together.

The synagogue is looking to establish itself as the open and accessible Orthodox synagogue in Sydney.

Over the past year The Great Synagogue has begun a major communal revival. Under the leadership of Rabbi Benjamin Elton, Cantor Joshua Weinberger and Rev David Hilton the Shule is running ever more social, educational and cultural events, and this is showing results. In the past few weeks  the synagogue welcomed 40 children and 150 of their parents and grandparents and others, for a special Shabbat service, and held a Shabbat lunch for 110 which raised almost $8000 for ovarian cancer research. The Great is fast gaining a reputation for beautiful services, thought provoking and progressive sermons and classes and warm pastoral care. Bar and Bat Mitzvah classes at Reddam House and Rose Bay Public which are open to all, are bringing a new generation into the Shule.